Very rare un-modified early first pattern German S98/05 “Butchers’ Blade” bayonet with saw teeth.
This all-original S98/05 was made in 1908. The bayonet has saw teeth, “high ears” and no flash guard and is in its original first pattern leather scabbard with frog.
The 369mm single-edged blade has a wide, single fuller below 29 pairs of saw teeth. The blade which is 26mm wide at the ricasso flares to a width of 33mm before tapering to a spear point earning it its nickname the “Butchers’ Blade” because of its similarity to such knives.
The blade is marked on the ricasso with the mark of the Prussian Royal Arsenal, a crown and the arsenal name. “Erfurt.” The spine carries the Royal Cypher of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Prussia above the date stamp “08” (1908) and a crowned acceptance/inspection stamp. The blade is in very good condition with only speckled age related tarnish and a few small patches of minor pitting.
The steel of the hilt bears numerous inspection marks. The crosspiece, spine, press-stud, grip screws, nuts and pommel are all stamped. The crosspiece also bears the unit marks of the Bavarian 2nd Pioneers, 2nd Division Reserves.
The press-stud mechanism is in perfect working order and the steel of the hilt is bright with a speckled age patina. The wooden scales are in good condition with a few use related dings and some old woodworm holes.
The bayonet is complete with its original first pattern leather scabbard with steel mounts. The leather is in excellent condition and the stitching is intact and tight. The steel throat and chape have a small amount of pitting and a mottled, age related patina. The throat and chape are stamped with inspection marks. The original dark brown leather frog is in fair to good condition. The stitching is intact and tight. One rivet is missing and there are age and use related creases and cracking.
The combination of un-altered first pattern S98/05 bayonet with saw-back, first pattern leather scabbard and frog, with unit marks make this a very rare and collectable bayonet.
Some Background on the S98/05 BayonetThe S98/05 bayonet was typical of German bayonets of the period in that it only had a vestigial muzzle ring, often referred to as “high ears”. The bayonet relied on the length of its hilt mounting to fix the blade to its rifle. The S98/05 bayonet was issued in two patterns, one with a saw back and one without. The saw-back version was known as the S98/05 m.S. (mit Säge - with saw). Only 6% of S98/05 bayonets were made with the saw back.
At the beginning of WWI, it was found that the S98/05 had a problem when used with the Karabiner 98 rifle. The shorter barrel on this rifle caused burning and damage to the grips because the barrel finished before the vestigial muzzle ring. In 1915, it was decided to fit a steel flash guard to the back of the hilt to protect the grips. The bayonet was further modified by grinding off most of the vestigial muzzle ring (high ears), reducing the back of the tang and adding a steel flash guard.
In 1917, as a result of allied propaganda, the decision was made to cease production of the saw-back version of the S98/05 and to grind off the saw from those already issued or to recall and re-issue them to non-front line troops.
